Richmond requires a permit from the Code Official before relocating, removing, or encroaching into the protected root zone of any protected tree on regulated properties.
Under Richmond's Unified Development Ordinance Section 4.4.202, no person may relocate, remove, or encroach into the protected root zone of a protected tree without a valid permit. A certified arborist, landscape architect, or surveyor must complete a tree survey documenting species, size, and condition. Planning and Zoning Commission approval is required for mature trees of 19 inches diameter or greater. The rules apply to new development, redevelopment, substantial improvements, and new subdivisions involving multifamily, nonresidential, mixed-use, or institutional uses. Single-family lots in improved subdivisions are generally exempt.
Removing a protected tree without a permit, encroaching into a protected root zone, or clear-cutting without approval violates the ordinance and can require mitigation replacement.
See how other cities in Fort Bend County handle tree removal permits.
See how Richmond's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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